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Irish Examiner
03-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Free HRT now available in over 1,600 pharmacies, says HSE
The HSE has published a list of pharmacies where women can access free hormone replacement therapy (HRT), with more than 1,600 already participating. The scheme launched on Sunday, though it was originally expected to begin in January. Women can now search by pharmacy name or address on the HSE website using a page titled Find a pharmacy offering free HRT. To avail of the service, women need a GP prescription and must first register for the Drugs Payment Scheme. Dr Clíona Murphy, national clinical director for the HSE National Women and Infants Health Programme, said many women experience debilitating symptoms during menopause. 'The symptoms, which are caused by changes in our hormones, can include hot flushes, night sweats, flushing, which can be distressing for people affected,' she said. 'Hormone replacement therapy is a medicine-based treatment which can really improve the quality of life for people experiencing symptoms. HRT helps to balance and replace the hormones that your body no longer produces in the same way.' She welcomed the fact that it is now free for those who need it, saying this gives people more options. 'The decision to take HRT should be made in consultation with your doctor,' she advised. Women can also register for the Drugs Payment Scheme on the HSE website. They must provide their name, date of birth, sex, PPS number, and contact details. The scheme also serves to track medications dispensed. Health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said: 'this is a fantastic support for women and a significant milestone in our commitment to women's health'. She said the move is 'removing financial barriers and providing vital support during all stages of menopause' for women. 'I thank the Irish Pharmacy Union for their partnership in this initiative and those pharmacies right across Ireland that have signed up. I encourage women to log on to the HSE's pharmacy finder to locate their nearest participating pharmacy,' she said. Last month the IPU backed the new plans for a free HRT rollout having described an earlier scheme as unviable. IPU president Tom Murray said: 'Our main priority with the HRT Scheme has been to ensure women receive the medication they need without cost. 'We are endorsing the scheme in good faith, backed by the broader commitments in this framework, including a review of the pharmacy fee structure.'
RTÉ News
02-06-2025
- Health
- RTÉ News
87% of pharmacies sign up to free HRT scheme
The President of the Irish Pharmacy Union has said 87% of pharmacies had signed up to the free hormone replacement therapy (HRT) scheme as of Friday afternoon. Tom Murray said that he anticipated more pharmacies will have signed up over the weekend and into next week, and that it will eventually reach 100% coverage. Hormone replacement therapy, or HRT, is a treatment that involves taking hormones to address menopausal symptoms, and which can help to manage related health conditions. Pharmacies were set to start providing free HRT for women from 1 June after an agreement with Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill last month. The IPU endorsed the scheme following Government commitments including a review of the pharmacy fee structure. Mr Murray said that pharmacists have always wanted to support women's health and want improved access to women's health. Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, he said that previous issues that were putting pharmacists off signing up for the scheme had been resolved. He acknowledged the Minister for Health for moving this forward and making it free. Mr Murray advised non-medical card holders to sign up for the drug payment scheme to get the medicine, and for women interested in finding out more about the scheme to speak to their pharmacist.
The Journal
01-06-2025
- Health
- The Journal
Free hormone replacement therapy available to women of Ireland from today
THE FREE HORMONE Replacement Therapy (HRT) arrangement has today been launched by the Minister for Health. The arrangement will see women in Ireland receive free HRT medicines and products free of charge at the point of dispensing from today. HRT used to relieve symptoms of menopause, perimenopause and postmenopause will be made available under the arrangement, with a pharmacy dispensing fee of €5 per item. Advertisement Pharmacies that sign up to the scheme will be supplied with a €2,000 once-off grant for transition arrangements such as upgrading their ICT systems. The Irish Pharmacy Union had previously argued that a €5 dispensing fee was too low and called for it to be raised to at least €6.50, and pharmacists said they wouldn't join the scheme because they couldn't afford to at the proposed dispensing fee. However, after talks between the union and the Department of Health, both sides confirmed last month that the union has endorsed a revised version of the scheme. Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said she welcomed both the beginning of the scheme and the HSE's Pharmacy Finder – a tool that will allow people to see which pharmacies are participating in the arrangement. 'From today, every woman in Ireland has free access to both essential HRT products and the dispensing fees, removing financial barriers and providing vital support during all stages of menopause,' the Minister said in a statement accompanying the announcement of today's commencement of the scheme. Related Reads 'Very few pharmacists' will sign up for free HRT scheme 'because €5 dispensing fee is too little' 'I'm done with all this fannying about with something that was promised to us over six months ago' 'I thank the Irish Pharmacy Union for their partnership in this initiative and those pharmacies right across Ireland that have signed up. I encourage women to log on to the HSE's pharmacy finder to locate their nearest participating pharmacy.' You can find more information on the scheme here . Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Irish Sun
16-05-2025
- Health
- The Irish Sun
Free HRT for women breakthrough as pharmacies agree new deal clearing way for scheme worth €840 for thousands to begin
PHARMACIES will start providing free hormone replacement therapy for women from next month. The move follows a breakthrough in talks between the Irish Pharmacy Union and 2 Women can get free hormone replacement therapy from next month Credit: Getty Images - Getty 2 Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said a deal has been struck Credit: © 2025 PA Media, All Rights Reserved Minister MacNeill today announced a deal had been struck after a row over the amount of Hormone replacement therapy, or HRT, is a treatment that involves taking hormones to address The IPU and the The impasse had centred on whether pharmacists should be paid a €6.50 dispensing fee in order to provide the service. READ MORE IN HEALTH But Ms MacNeill yesterday told how an agreement has now been reached that the dispensing fee will be €5 with further discussions on related costs. The Minister said: 'We've landed on €5. 'We gave a couple of options, one was €5 and the other was for pharmacies to charge whatever they chose to charge and I would give them a signing-up fee to do that. 'Everybody has had a chance to reflect on that.' Most read in Health The deal means the path has been cleared for the scheme to roll out on June 1. Ms MacNeill said: 'From 1 June women will be able to go in and get their HRT for free', adding that she hopes pharmacies sign up to the plan 'quickly so as to be ready for June to enable women to get their free HRT.' Drug could make women fertile for an extra 5 years and help them live longer IPU president Tom Murray welcomed the agreement, saying: 'Our main priority with the HRT scheme has been to ensure women receive the 'We are endorsing the scheme in good faith, backed by the broader commitments in this framework, including a review of the pharmacy fee structure.'
The Journal
16-05-2025
- Health
- The Journal
Health minister and pharmacists break impasse over free HRT scheme
PHARMACISTS AND THE Minister for Health have broken an impasse over how the new scheme for hormone replacement therapy (HRT) will be delivered, clearing the way for the scheme to commence next month. HRT used to relieve symptoms of menopause, perimenopause and postmenopause will be available for free at participating pharmacies from 1 June, with a pharmacy dispensing fee of €5 per item. Pharmacies that sign up to the scheme will be supplied with a €2,000 once-off grant for transition arrangements such as upgrading their ICT systems. The Irish Pharmacy Union had previously argued that a €5 dispensing fee was too low and called for it to be raised to at least €6.50, and pharmacists said they wouldn't join the scheme because they couldn't afford to at the proposed dispensing fee. However, after talks between the union and the Department of Health, both sides hve confirmed today that the union has endorsed a revised version of the scheme. Advertisement The dispensing fee is still set at €5 but the once-off grant was raised from €1,000 to €2,000, and the department has agreed to several further commitments, including a review of pharmacy fees. The new framework agreement between the IPU, Department of Health and the HSE also includes government commitments to reduce administrative burdens on pharmacies and support their digitisation. And another key item is the expansion of pharmacy services, such as enabling pharmacists to authorise certain prescription medications for patients. Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said that with IPU's support for the scheme, she 'anticipates that every pharmacy will now sign up'. 'I hugely welcome the contribution pharmacists make to women's health and to our health services. I look forward to continuing to work closely with the sector in the coming weeks and months,' she said. IPU President Tom Murray described the framework as the 'most comprehensive commitment to the future of Irish pharmacy in decades'. 'Our main priority with the HRT Scheme has been to ensure women receive the medication they need without cost. We are endorsing the scheme in good faith, backed by the broader commitments in this framework, including a review of the pharmacy fee structure,' Murray said. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
